A group of suspected radicals target Imam Hussain mourners in Jos, Nigeria

SHAFAQNA – “The thugs, under the order of one of the Wahhabi cleric in Jos, Sheikh Aliyu bn Aliyu, popularly known as Ali Dan Ali, attacked the peaceful mourners using cutlasses, knives and iron rods, and injured about 30 at varying degrees including females,” said one of the official of the Ashura.

On Friday the 23th of October, 2015 thugs attacked Shia Muslims brothers and Sisters on their way trekking to Ashura gathering in Jos city of Nigeria. On that fateful day, the assailants used the cover of the night and burnt and demolished houses of some Shia brothers in Gangare town, raided their shops and carted away the goods.

The thugs, under the order of one of the Wahhabi cleric in Jos, Sheikh Aliyu bn Aliyu, popularly known as Ali Dan Ali, attacked the peaceful mourners using cutlasses, knives and iron rods, and injured about 30 at varying degrees including females.

Since the first of Muharram Muslim brothers and sisters trek from their destinations to Husainiyyah located at Unguwar Rogo Jos peacefully for Ashura mourning gatherings. It was on the Friday the 10th of Muharram the hoodlums carried out the unprovoked attack under the order of the extremist cleric.

Over the years, a certain Izala scholar of the Kaduna faction, together with one Kabiru Cidawa in Jos have been advocating and agitating for attack and expulsion of the Shi’a from Gangare and Rikos towns in Jos. Kabiru Cidawa had also been posting on Facebook insults on the personality of leader of the Shia Islamic movement, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, as well as other Shi’a Muslim figures. They therefore used the Ashura mourning session in the month of Muharram to actualize their heinous agenda.

Kabiru Cidawa sent his two brothers (Sani Cidawa and Salisu Cidawa) to the residence of a Brother, Yahaya, attacked and brutality manhandled him. They dragged him to the Gangare police station, where they were informed they had no power to beat and arrest a person and hand him over to the police.

Another man called Dan Ali and his supporters also attacked another Brother, Nuhu Idris, when all inciting statements and abuses on him failed to provoke the brother. It took the intervention of the people to water down the havoc.

They torched additional residence of a Shia man, Malam Aliyu, after demolishing a mosque where the worshipers pray.

Monday (26/10/2015), the assailants continued with their atrocity unhindered. They burnt the residence of Alhaji sabo Maigoro around 11: am. The mosque in the house where Shia worshipers pray was not also spared. It was razed.

They also singled out Alhaji Sa’idu Al-mizan, attacked and dispersed his family, threw his belongings into a well. Neighbor resisted the attempt by the assailants to burn the house.

They went to the residence of Uncle Sani and attacked him, carted away his belongings and wreaked havoc.

At the residence of Malam Idris Muhammad, who oversees the activities of the Shiite Islamic Movement in the Gangare community, and set it on fire.

Below is the list of the injured during the spate of the attacks at different locations: